London for a week
Jan 11th, 2013, 02:36 AM
#21
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In general, I agree with Kate. Residents need to be really, really careful on the streets, never mind people who aren't brought up with our traffic rules. But there are cycle hire stations around Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens and you can get a reasonable ride around the park in safety.
http://www.royalparks.org.uk/about-u...ays-cycle-hire
http://www.royalparks.org.uk/about-u...ays-cycle-hire
Jan 11th, 2013, 08:28 AM
#22
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Love the top shop idea for my daughter - perfect for her -
"March is the start of high season" - is that closer to Easter or early March when we will be there
I am taking everyone's advice and narrowing down where or rather what we want to see in-depth (or tour inside I guess)
"March is the start of high season" - is that closer to Easter or early March when we will be there
I am taking everyone's advice and narrowing down where or rather what we want to see in-depth (or tour inside I guess)
Jan 11th, 2013, 09:18 AM
#23
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<<It isn't 'fun' for the residents of the area. They hate HATE the Donald and everyone following him around their neighborhoods.>>
The tour's not for them and the OP is just going on a tour. I'm thinking the local pub owners don't hate the Donald that much considering how much business they get from the tour-takers.
I agree the kids need to figure out what they want to do. The boy should be in boy nirvana with the Tower, Cabinet War Rooms, St. Paul's, British Museum and Imperial War Museum for history plus the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, and Courtauld for art. For the four lines on a canvas crap, he could go to the Tate Modern. London is fish + barrel + shotgun for art and history afficionados.
Fat Tire Bike Tours: http://fattirebiketours.com/london
The tour's not for them and the OP is just going on a tour. I'm thinking the local pub owners don't hate the Donald that much considering how much business they get from the tour-takers.
I agree the kids need to figure out what they want to do. The boy should be in boy nirvana with the Tower, Cabinet War Rooms, St. Paul's, British Museum and Imperial War Museum for history plus the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, and Courtauld for art. For the four lines on a canvas crap, he could go to the Tate Modern. London is fish + barrel + shotgun for art and history afficionados.
Fat Tire Bike Tours: http://fattirebiketours.com/london
Jan 11th, 2013, 10:09 AM
#24
BigRuss: "<i>The tour's not for them . . .</i>"
Sorry - but that <i>verges</i> on ugly American-ish (or ugly any-tourist). The tours are VERY large, and very noisy and are at night and they disturb the locals.
No the tours aren't 'for them' - but they certainly suffer the consequences.
Sorry - but that <i>verges</i> on ugly American-ish (or ugly any-tourist). The tours are VERY large, and very noisy and are at night and they disturb the locals.
No the tours aren't 'for them' - but they certainly suffer the consequences.
Jan 11th, 2013, 12:19 PM
#27
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<i><<BigRuss: "The tour's not for them . . ."
Sorry - but that verges on ugly American-ish (or ugly any-tourist). The tours are VERY large, and very noisy and are at night and they disturb the locals.>></i>
Then let the residents complain to London Walks and its competitors and the police and whoever else is there to keep order. The tours go from 730 to 9 or so - they're not an outdoor after-hours rave. And the Donald, if he is the true attraction, only does a couple of tours per week (out of the eight LW offers), one of which is on Friday nights.
If the OP or her spawn are interested and want to do the tour, then they should. It's interesting, it has educational value, and it's informative regarding one of the great human interest crime stories in the history of the world. They can do so with courtesy and respect and shouldn't be shamed into avoiding the experience.
And don't give me the "verges on ugly American" nonsense - this is a business enterprise that benefits the locals too. JtR is internationally renowned and people from all over go on the tours and see the area, including more than a few Brits (who dominated the one I took ages ago). It is a tourist attraction. Might as well have San Franciscans on Lombard Street gripe about all the random drivers coming down the road with no real purpose.
Your view is colored by the fact you think the tour sucks. As I said before, local business owners are "locals" and considering the business they reap from the tours, I doubt they hate it.
Sorry - but that verges on ugly American-ish (or ugly any-tourist). The tours are VERY large, and very noisy and are at night and they disturb the locals.>></i>
Then let the residents complain to London Walks and its competitors and the police and whoever else is there to keep order. The tours go from 730 to 9 or so - they're not an outdoor after-hours rave. And the Donald, if he is the true attraction, only does a couple of tours per week (out of the eight LW offers), one of which is on Friday nights.
If the OP or her spawn are interested and want to do the tour, then they should. It's interesting, it has educational value, and it's informative regarding one of the great human interest crime stories in the history of the world. They can do so with courtesy and respect and shouldn't be shamed into avoiding the experience.
And don't give me the "verges on ugly American" nonsense - this is a business enterprise that benefits the locals too. JtR is internationally renowned and people from all over go on the tours and see the area, including more than a few Brits (who dominated the one I took ages ago). It is a tourist attraction. Might as well have San Franciscans on Lombard Street gripe about all the random drivers coming down the road with no real purpose.
Your view is colored by the fact you think the tour sucks. As I said before, local business owners are "locals" and considering the business they reap from the tours, I doubt they hate it.
Jan 11th, 2013, 12:40 PM
#28
"<i>Then let the residents complain to London Walks and its competitors . . .</i>"
They do. Constantly.
I don't like the tour - true.
But how am I any different than you - you like the thing so think folks should take it. I don't and say so -- and give some valid reasons that folks may have not considered.
They do. Constantly.
I don't like the tour - true.
But how am I any different than you - you like the thing so think folks should take it. I don't and say so -- and give some valid reasons that folks may have not considered.
Jan 11th, 2013, 01:02 PM
#29
Maybe read these two old threads to get some insight to both sides of the debate - But especially what our truly missed CW has to say being both a London cop and an ex-Ripper tour guide.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...r-366283-2.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...king-tours.cfm
I especially think this CW quote sums things up:
>><blue><<<<If you don't like being "on the tourist path" there are plenty of other places one can choose to live>>>>
I'm sorry but these comments are beginning to piss me off. You will note that I said "areas of SOCIAL housing". Social housing is government supplied cheap housing for the poor. These people had no say whatsoever in where they live. They would all very much like to move - mainly;y because of the Ripper walks.
Incidentally; in going on the Ripper walks you are revelling in the sadistic murder of at least five women (I think double that at least) by a sexual psychopath. What message does that send to any children you take along?
And just so as you know - the only original site left intact is Mitre Square where Catherine eddowes was murdered.
Some unscrupulous guides claim that an old building is Millers Court - but it ain't. The multi storey car park opposite is. Specifically the bit where the motorbikes are parked.</blue><<
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...r-366283-2.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...king-tours.cfm
I especially think this CW quote sums things up:
>><blue><<<<If you don't like being "on the tourist path" there are plenty of other places one can choose to live>>>>
I'm sorry but these comments are beginning to piss me off. You will note that I said "areas of SOCIAL housing". Social housing is government supplied cheap housing for the poor. These people had no say whatsoever in where they live. They would all very much like to move - mainly;y because of the Ripper walks.
Incidentally; in going on the Ripper walks you are revelling in the sadistic murder of at least five women (I think double that at least) by a sexual psychopath. What message does that send to any children you take along?
And just so as you know - the only original site left intact is Mitre Square where Catherine eddowes was murdered.
Some unscrupulous guides claim that an old building is Millers Court - but it ain't. The multi storey car park opposite is. Specifically the bit where the motorbikes are parked.</blue><<
